3 Years of Blogging + 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started

There is a misconception that you can start a blog, post content, and be successful. If only that were true. Unfortunately being a successful blogger takes a lot more than just writing a post every week and calling it a day. The most successful bloggers are out there promoting their posts and building a brand. I’m nowhere near an expert, but I do consider myself an authority. I’ve been blogging for over three years now and in that time I’ve been able to monetize my blog and grow my audience to around 17,000 people.

With that said, I get a lot of people asking for blogging advice (which I love!) but I find myself answering the same questions over and over again so I thought it’d be wise to compile my commonly asked questions in one place.

1. HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR TRIBE?

Now that you’re proud of the look, and feel of your site people will start to reach out to you and you will be confidently reaching back. Be careful not to spread yourself too thin, and remember it’s okay to say no. You must protect your brand by aligning only with companies and individuals that you think will represent you and your brand in a positive way. But don’t limit yourself to working with other bloggers and brands, think bigger. Join local blogging, writing, and small business groups as you look for photographers, videographers, makeup artists, performers, caterers, event planners, and public relation professionals to add to your tribe.

2. HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOUR POSTS?

I promote blog posts in Insta-Stories, my personal Facebook page, the branded Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest, in person and in print. When I’m attending events if a topic that I write about comes up I give a couple of tips and refer them to the blog post the addresses the problem. I also submit content to print magazines. I know there’s a lot of conflicting information about mixing personal and business pages but for my brand it doesn’t make since to separate the two. I talk about fashion, life hacks, body positivity, entertainment, travel, and my personal battle with an eating disorder. Because I consider blog readers friends I write in the same voice I use to talk to my friends in real life.

3. HOW DO YOU CREATE YOUR BLOG GRAPHICS?

Canva is Bae! My blog elevated to a whole new level once I started using Canva and the best part is, it’s free. Canva allows you to create custom templates that fit different blogging and social media platforms. They also offer printing, resumes, and even more features if you upgrade to the paid version. No matter which version of Canva you use, it’s easy to navigate so you don’t have have a background in design or go through a bunch of tutorials to get started.

4. HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO BLOG?

Blogging isn’t for the faint of heart. It is going to consume most of your time and that’s okay as long as this is a passion for you. If you are blogging to be popular or in hopes of quitting your day job I can guarantee to won’t find time to dedicate to writing, editing, content promotion and networking regularly. If you don’t post frequently and honestly, readers most likely won’t trust you and won’t stick around for long. So really think about why you want to blog and how you can help people with your natural talents. Once you’re focused on how you can help others you will find the time to prioritize blogging.

5. HOW DO YOU MONETIZE YOUR BLOG?

Most bloggers make their money with affiliate links, brand ambassador programs, sponsored posts, speaking engagements, selling services, selling products, and by creating content for other publications. At the moment, I do all of the above with the exception of selling products.

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None of this would be possible without each and every one of you taking this journey of fashion, self-love, and sisterhood with me. So thank you for every like, comment, share, conversation, and for each event you attended.

HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

Leave them in the comments and always feel free to email me at windycitywardrobeinfo@gmail.com!

Thank you, I found it at my FAVORITE spot, eShakti. Made to measure is the best way to shop for dresses. Its really tempting to hit publish and walk away but if you want to grow promote your content, good luck😘

Meet The Publisher

Hey girl, hey! I'm Dāsha, a Chicago-based Wardrobe Stylist & Blogger here to help you curate experiences and a wardrobe you love. In a world that keeps trying to pit girl against girl, I choose community over competition. So grab your favorite drink, sit back and enjoy this journey of fashion, self-discovery, and sisterhood!